IND vs ENG: Team India suffered a major setback before the third Test match against England to be played in Rajkot from February 15. KL Rahul has been dropped from the third Test match against England. The Indian Senior Selection Committee, before announcing the next three Test matches, had put a condition that he would be given a chance to play only if he was fit. According to the newspaper Indian Express, KL Rahul has not been able to get fully fit yet. At the same time, Devdutt Padikkal may be given a chance to play in the team instead of KL Rahul.
KL Rahul is not fit
It has been learned that the medical team has told the selectors that they will monitor Rahul for another week to decide on his availability. Rahul was ruled out of the second Test in Vizag after complaining of pain in his right quadriceps during the first Test in Hyderabad. In the first Test match, KL Rahul batted at number four and looked in good rhythm.
Devdutt Padikkal may get a chance
With KL Rahul not in the team, Karnataka batsman Devdutt Padikkal, who is playing in the ongoing Ranji season, can be given a chance in the Indian Test team, who scored 151 runs against Tamil Nadu in his last match. During the match, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar was sitting in the stands watching the Karnataka versus Tamil Nadu match.
The left-handed Padikkal has been in tremendous form this season and scored 103 against Goa after scoring 193 against Punjab. After this, he also scored 105, 65, and 21 runs in his 3 innings in the unofficial Test match against the England Lions.
After scoring 151 runs against Tamil Nadu, Devdutt Padikkal said that I have no problem batting at number 3 and I have no problem in opening. It doesn’t bother me and as you play more cricket and gain experience, at this stage you will naturally be able to play more shots because with experience you become more confident about it.
